Caspar Fagel, a Dutch statesman, studied law at the University of Utrecht 1648-1653, practiced law in The Hague, then became clerk of the States-General of the Netherlands 1670-1672 and finally grand pensionary (secretary) of this body. He was a member of the Reformed Church, and a champion of religious tolerance, especially on political grounds. The intercession of Fagel with the Dutch Stadholder Prince William of Orange brought about the release of Foeke Floris, a Mennonite preacher at Oostzaan, from persecution for "heresy." On 1 November 1688 the Mennonite Lamist congregation at Amsterdam and a number of churches in the neighborhood of Amsterdam sent a letter of thanks to Fagel, because he had declared that he would maintain absolute freedom of conscience wherever he could.